I wanted to weigh in on this one as I am really of mixed opinion on the issue.
I have now been to about 5 shows on the HOTE tour and the Buffalo Show I was at this past Saturday night ( 7/1
was the first time I really saw the security in action over the phone policy. Which I have read about in many previous posts here on this board.
So I had great seats -4th row. Mr. Frey did actually call out a woman who was sitting in the first row center for texting. He then went on to say something like " Everyone ,this is our time together just sit and enjoy the show" So what happens? The man two people over from me decides to record some songs on his phone, got warned by security, and then got asked to leave because he did not stop. Then there was a girl in the row in front of me taking pictures while Don was singing and her flash went off. The couple sitting near her were older than her ,and I saw them trying to tell her to stop, but she did not, she kept taking pictures,, so guess who else was asked to leave?
I get that people spend a ton of money for these shows and want a few pics because its a great keepsake, but most people just seem to lose control over it, and it becomes a phone being held up all night to record a show. That is why the Eagles do what they do. I respect it, and further, I am glad people get asked to leave. So many people believe that there are no consequences to breaking or ignoring rules but the Eagles, unlike a lot of others, actually put a policy out there, they tell people what the policy is , they announce it ,and what happens, people still just go ahead and do as they wish in terms of their phone use. So its not like you are not warned, its just unexpected to be caught and asked to leave as a result of breaking the rules.. It's really symptomatic of a much bigger issue but that is not for this forum.
As someone who spent a ton of money for great tickets to another show recently and had it ruined by people in front of me waiving their ipad mini's and phones around over their heads all night - I have to stand with the Eagles policy on this one.